Leaders of a New Stage

Akiba Abaka Arts presented the conversation Leaders of a New Stage as a part of the 10 Weeks in Jamaica series livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Sunday 27 December 2020 at 1 p.m. PST (San Francisco, UTC -8) / 3 p.m. CST (Chicago, UTC -6) / 4 p.m. EST (Kingston, UTC -5).

The next generation of leaders in the Jamaican theatre are brave, audacious, brilliantly creative and highly strategic. They meld centuries old traditions, from Jamaica and around the world, with contemporary art forms and popular culture to create new and dynamic ways of presenting theatre. Though young and energetic, they are committed to providing access and opportunities for the generations that are coming up behind them. Their profit margins are set on social responsibility and commercial viability and they bear the responsibility of change.

Speakers: Rayon McLean, Fabian Barracks and Evoné Walters.

Rayon McLean: A graduate of the University of the West Indies, Rayon McLean is a recipient of the Prime Minister’s Youth Award for Excellence and the Governor General’s Achievement Award for his work in culture and community outreach. He holds an MA in Applied Theatre from Goldsmiths, University of London. He is a director of theatre, film, and television. He has done so primarily through his involvement in the Jamaica Youth Theatre, the Philip Sherlock Center for the Creative Art, and QUILT, the Caribbean’s leading Devised Theatre Company.

Fabian Barracks is CEO of Barracks Entertainment, a theatre company established nine years ago that empowers youth through the arts. He has done 10 commercial productions, some of the most recent being: Wah Sweet Nanny Goat, Black Sheep and Ananda Alert. Fabian is extremely passionate about youth development and focuses on producing plays that explores some critical themes affecting young people. Barracks has established The Barracks Theatre, earlier this year which serves as a youth hub for theatre arts. His recent achievements include: winning Actor Boy Award 2018 for Best Comedy for Black Sheep and Youth View Awards for Favourite Local Theatre Play in 2017 for Wah Sweet Nanny Goat. Alum of the University of the West Indies - ECEM Programme, Barracks continues to stay through to his vision of bringing out the best in youth through the arts and nurturing young talents through quality theatre.

Evoné Walters is a graduate of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, School of Drama in Kingston, Jamaica. She has over 10 years experience in the industry. She has worn hats such as stage manager, tv show production manager, radio producer and project coordinator. Currently she is a creative social entrepreneur, theatre director and producer. She is the founder and managing director of Artribute Performing Arts, a company focused on using the arts as a medium of learning. Artribute's main service is staging secondary school English Literature texts as plays for students preparing for school exit examinations. Evoné is also proficient in using the arts as a vehicle for social change focusing focusing on maladaptive behaviour in youths. Her passions also include the building of the creative industry in Jamaica and the education of creative entrepreneurs.

10 Weeks In Jamaica: Theater Conversations from Jamaica to The World!
Often seen as an ideal tropical vacation destination, the island nation of Jamaica is a tourism and cultural hub of the Caribbean known globally for its ska and reggae music, world class sprinters, high grade ganja, endless sunshine and beautiful beaches. Yet, Jamaica possesses a theatrical legacy that contains catalytic approaches to decolonization, language reclamation, indigenous narrative formation, community development and nation building. As the world focuses on achieving racial equity, the rich history and contemporary narratives of the Jamaican stage provides valuable learnings for theater practitioners and audiences in search of models and memories of progressive community building through the arts.

About HowlRound TV
HowlRound TV is a global, commons-based peer produced, open access livestreaming and video archive project stewarded by the nonprofit HowlRound. HowlRound TV is a free and shared resource for live conversations and performances relevant to the world's performing arts and cultural fields. Its mission is to break geographic isolation, promote resource sharing, and to develop our knowledge commons collectively. Participate in a community of peer organizations revolutionizing the flow of information, knowledge, and access in our field by becoming a producer and co-producing with us. Learn more by going to our participate page. For any other queries, email [email protected], or call Vijay Mathew at +1 917.686.3185 Signal/WhatsApp. View the video archive of past events.